I heard this cherry-picked stat from an ESPN talking head and double-checked: it turns out to be slightly false, as Titans are #32 and the Lions are #31 in defensive EPA/play since Week 7.
The Titans are a bad team and are 1-3 in that stretch.
The Lions are a good team and are 3-1 in that stretch.
The Lions were #7 in defensive EPA/play from Week 1-6 before the Baltimore debacle. At just past the mid-way point of the season, our defense must return to that average/good level to finish the season and into the playoffs. With James Houston and CJGJ not likely to return until late December (at the very best), what do y’all think are the biggest factors in improving the defense?
For reference, the 2022 Detroit Lions started Weeks 1-10 at #32 in defensive EPA/play and improved Weeks 11-18 to #21 defensive EPA/play.
Aaron Glenn gonna show this to Dan today “See we’re 31st not 32nd!”
We are still pretty ok against the run. Our pass D has died due to no pass rush.
We’ve all seen it on the field. Little to no pass rush and the pass D is atrocious.
AG better fucking not lose us a playoff game. Feels like a roll of the dice at this point.
James Houston will fix a lot of problems. There’s no coincidence that his emergence last year coincided with the defense turning a corner.
Biggest factor would’ve been acquiring talent at the deadline, or now maybe firing AG
Everyday, I hope Aaron Glenn gets a head coaching job somewhere else.
what do y’all think are the biggest factors in improving the defense?
A competent defensive coordinator. But since we’re in the middle of the season and we don’t get that - probably much better tackling of Kerby, Jerry Jacobs and Jack Campbell. Also, please for the love of god, don’t play that vanilla defense everytime we play a mobile qb. It’s just painful to watch.
I wonder what it is if we take out the Baltimore game.
MCDC should bring in Rex Ryan as a consultant to help out AG…he is in over his head
Cue the guys who regularly come in here and say the Lions have a top 10 defense and defend AG. The Lions defense (passing) has been atrocious against good QBs and offenses.
As good as our offense can be, I don’t feel that way about the defense. We allow too much separation on the secondary, and we still aren’t good against scrambling QB. Granted, CJGJ is (hopefully) not out for the season and will be back come playoffs, and Moseley tore his ACL and is out for the season… not to mention, it really sucks not having James Houston… I am hoping the defense does improve, but I just don’t trust Aaron Glenn to improve it.
It’s crazy to see how many people aren’t here to defend AG in this thread.
Is it all his fault? No. But when you’re ranked 31st in defensive epa/play you can’t put all the blame on the talent. There have been plenty of teams with less talent who have had at least an average defense. If Glenn could figure out how to effectively make adjustments when necessary this defense would be able to hold their own.
Im not worried
Hutch just tasted blood he is about to go off
This is why I have said we are a 1 and done team in the playoffs. I don’t think it matters what seed we get because the moment we face a good QB it’s over. We can’t generate pressure so they can pick us apart. Unless the offense is playing lights out we are in for a long day.
This has been the formula to beat us. Get a few stops in the first half, get us playing from behind, and we’re not going to be able to catch up. The Bears are going to be picking in the top 10, possibly even top 5 this year (even without the pick from the Panthers). Needing a miracle comeback to beat them at home is a very, very bad sign.
AG needs to go. The offense is covering up for the horror that is our defense. Also, Hutch really isn’t the difference maker we need him to be as the #2 pick. He plays hard but he just doesn’t get home often enough. Remember how we were so certain that he was better than Thibs? Guess who has 10.5 sacks right now and who has 5.5. Thibs is playing on an even worse dline. He doesn’t need help from the other side to get home, which is the excuse I keep hearing for Hutch.
This is why I have said we are a 1 and done team in the playoffs. I don’t think it matters what seed we get because the moment we face a good QB it’s over. We can’t generate pressure so they can pick us apart. Unless the offense is playing lights out we are in for a long day.
This has been the formula to beat us. Get a few stops in the first half, get us playing from behind, and we’re not going to be able to catch up. The Bears are going to be picking in the top 10, possibly even top 5 this year (even without the pick from the Panthers). Needing a miracle comeback to beat them at home is a very, very bad sign.
AG needs to go. The offense is covering up for the horror that is our defense. Also, Hutch really isn’t the difference maker we need him to be as the #2 pick. He plays hard but he just doesn’t get home often enough. Remember how we were so certain that he was better than Thibs? Guess who has 10.5 sacks right now and who has 5.5. Thibs is playing on an even worse dline. He doesn’t need help from the other side to get home, which is the excuse I keep hearing for Hutch.